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Melissa Wright

Dr Melissa Wright

(she/her)

Postdoctoral Research Associate

School of Physics and Astronomy

Email
WrightME@cardiff.ac.uk
Campuses
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

Research Overview

My research focuses on vascular health and functioning across the brain and eye and how this interacts with hormonal profile. In particular, I am interested in woman's health and under-researched groups. My current projects focus on understanding how the fluctuations of hormones across a menstrual cycle influence vascular health, and how vascular functioning is impacted in conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). 

Publication

Research

My postdoctoral research focuses on vascular health and functioning across the brain and eye and how this interacts with the hormonal profile (e.g., levels of oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone). In particular, I am interested in woman's health and under-researched groups. My current projects focus on understanding how the fluctuations of hormones across a menstrual cycle influence vascular health, and how vascular functioning is impacted in conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). 

I am currently working within Professor Kevin Murphy's lab, but also work with collaborators in Cardiff Metropolitan University, The University of Edinburgh, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Funding and Awards

  • ITPA - Translational Knowledge Exchange and Training Award (TKET) 2022 - £1281
  • Guarantors of Brain travel grant (for travel to OHBM 2022) - £500
  • PsyPAG research grant 2019 (for participant and equipment costs) - £300
  • Guarantors of Brain travel grant (for travel to OHBM 2019) - £465
  • British Chapter ISMRM Student Stipend 2018 - £75
  • Imaging and Perimetry Society (IPS) 2018 travel grant - $1,000
  • Masters Excellence Scholarship 2015; Cardiff University - £3,000 tuition discount
  • British Psychological Society Prize for highest graded dissertation 2015; Aston University

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In my PhD, I used fMRI (3T and 7T) and psychophysics to investigate cortical reorganisation in glaucoma, as well as relationships between the functional architecture of the eye and brain. I was funded by a Fight for Sight PhD studentship.

PhD Research Team

Dr Tony Redmond (Primary supervisor: School of Optometry and Vision sciences, Cardiff University)

Prof Krishna Singh (Second supervisor: CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University)

Prof Simon Rushton (Third supervisor: School of Psychology, Cardiff University)

Prof James E Morgan (Collaborator: School of Optometry and Vision sciences, Cardiff University)

Prof Tom Margrain (Collaborator: School of Optometry and Vision sciences, Cardiff University)

Dr Fergal A Ennis (Collaborator: School of Optometry and Vision sciences, Cardiff University)

Biography

Educational and Professional Qualifications

2022 –  Advanced fellow in Higher Education (AFHEA)
2016 – 2021: PhD: Cardiff University -Vision Sciences and Neuroimaging
Title: Changes in the visual cortex in glaucoma and a possible role in visual recovery: an fMRI study.
Supervisors: Tony Redmond, Krish D Singh, Simon K Rushton
2015 – 2016: MSc Neuroimaging: Methods and applications: Cardiff University
2011 – 2015: BSc Psychology with integrated placement: Aston University

 

Committees and reviewing

  • Committee member on the Science committee for the Society for Endocrinology (SfE; 2024-2028). 
  • I have undertaken editorial roles for Frontiers (research topic editor) and for the SfE public engagement site, You and Your Hormones (content editor). I have also completed scientific peer reviews for the journal Cortex and for ISMRM. 
  • I am a LGBT+ advocate for the Institute of Physics LGBT+ network, which involves editing the quarterly newsletter to all network members.

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Endocrinology
  • Neuroimaging